Pro-Akaev Candidates Win Majority In Kyrgyz Parliament

President Akaev will have an overwhelming majority in parliament (file photo)
Bishkek, 15 March 2005 (RFE/RL) -- A second round of parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan has ended with supporters of President Askar Akaev maintaining a sizable majority in the 75-seat chamber.

Preliminary results suggest clear opposition candidates won just five seats. About two-thirds of the candidates who won seats in parliament support Akaev to some degree.

Election monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were "significant shortcomings" in the polls. But the country's Central Election Commission chief, Sulaiman Imanbaev, joined election observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States in praising the polls as a success.

Opposition leaders say there were a number of irregularities in the elections and have organized a series of demonstrations across the country since the first round on 27 February.